1.3.1 Computer Networks and Topologies Keywords

Question 1

LAN

Answer 1

Local Area Network-
Small geographic area. All the hardware for the LAN is owned by the organisation using it. Wired with UTP cable, fibre optic cable or wireless using routers and Wi-Fi access points.

Question 2

WAN

Answer 2

Wide Area Network-
Large geographic area. Infrastructure is hired from telecommunication companies who own and manage it. Connected with telephone lines, fibre optic cables or satellite links.

Question 3

Client-server network

Answer 3

A client makes requests to the server for data and connections. A server controls access and security to one shared file store. A server manages access to the internet, shared printers and email services. A server runs a backup of data.

Question 4

Peer-to-peer network

Answer 4

All computers are equal. Computers serve their own files to each other. Each computer is responsible for its own security and backup. Computers usually have their own printer.

Question 5

Wireless Access Point

Answer 5

A networking hardware device that allows a Wi-Fi device to connect to a wired network.

Question 6

Router

Answer 6

A router sends data between networks.
It is needed to connect a local area network to a wide area network.
It uses the IP address on a device to route traffic to other routers.

Question 7

Switch

Answer 7

A switch sends data between computers on a local area network.
It uses the NIC address on a device to route traffic.

Question 8

NIC

Answer 8

Network Interface Card-
A computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network.

Question 9

Transmission media

Answer 9

The physical media over which data is transmitted, e.g. twisted copper cable, fibre optic etc.

Question 10

The Internet

Answer 10

The Internet is a worldwide collection of interconnected computer networks. It is an example of a WAN, albeit the very largest one which exists!

Question 11

DNS

Answer 11

Domain Name System-
The Internet’s equivalent of a phone book. They maintain a directory of domain names and translate them to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. This is necessary because, although domain names are easy for people to remember, computers or machines access websites based on IP addresses.

Question 12

Hosting

Answer 12

Websites stored on dedicated servers. Reasons include: Websites need to be available 24/7. Accessed by thousands of users at a time. Strong protection from hackers. They need an IP address that doesn’t change.

Question 13

The Cloud

Answer 13

Remote servers that store data that can be accessed over the internet. Advantages: Access anytime, anywhere from any device. Automatic backup. Collaborate on files easily.

Question 14

Web Server

Answer 14

The physical or logical arrangement of connected devices on a network e.g. Computers, switches, routers, printers, servers etc.

Question 15

Client

Answer 15

A client can be thought of as computing device which requests or is using the services from some remote / connected server.

Question 16

Network topology

Answer 16

The physical or logical arrangement of connected devices on a network e.g. Computers, switches, routers, printers, servers etc.

Question 17

Star topology

Answer 17

Computers connected to a central switch. If one computer fails no others are affected. If the switch fails all connections are affected.

Question 18

Mesh topology

Answer 18

Switches (LAN) or routers (WAN) connected so there is more than one route to the destination. e.g. The Internet More resilient to faults but more cable needed.